Root Canal Treatment

Giving Teeth New Life with Root Canal Treatment

Teeth are the only parts of the body that cannot heal and repair themselves. If decay is not treated in the early stages with a filling or a crown, it will continue to eat away at the tooth structure until it reaches the tooth pulp, which is the center of the tooth filled with living tissues.

Even though the pulp contains blood and lymph vessels, once infection has infiltrated the area, white blood cells cannot reach the tooth to help heal and repair these tissues. A fracture or break can also expose the tooth pulp, making it vulnerable to infection. If you do not seek treatment for your infected tooth, your pain and swelling will not only intensify, but you may also develop an abscess, lose your tooth, and experience damage to your jawbone. The standard procedure for this type of infection is a root canal therapy.

Needing Root Canal Treatment

While some patients do not have obvious symptoms with a tooth infection, most people will experience pain with biting and chewing or sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks. You may also notice swelling of your gums and even a pimple in the area, which indicates an abscess, an accumulation of pus at the tip of the tooth root that must be drained by Dr. Hawks.

Saving Teeth from Extraction or Loss

If the dentist determines that you require root canal therapy, he will commence by numbing the area. We offer a number of sedation options for our apprehensive patients, as well. The procedure begins by creating an opening in your tooth, to access the root canal. From there, Dr. Hawks will remove the infected tissue and debris. He will sterilize this space and fill the space with dental material that will restore stability and prevent further infection. In some cases, the tooth might still be too unstable to stand alone after the procedure. If this occurs, the dentist can place a crown restoration on that tooth, which will provide protection against further decay and infection, as well as added stability.

Do You Need Root Canal Treatment?

If your tooth becomes internally infected, then root canal treatment may be the best way to restore your tooth and avoid having to extract it. To find out if you need root canal treatment, schedule an examination by calling our dental office in West Des Moines, IA, at (515) 225-6665. Since 1985, Dr. Hawks has proudly served the residents of West Des Moines, as well as Urbandale, Johnston, Waukee, Grimes, and all surrounding communities since 1985.